Foldable structure



1919 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FOLDABLE STRIQCTURE Filed Aug. 2. I39

May, 1, 1923.

,1. D. MACDONALD (llllx v L. J

John llMawdonaZd, y

. J. D. MACDONALD May 1, 192a."

' -FOLDABLE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1919 lnveni/ or; John.D.Mae-damid Patented May 1, 1923.

:ronn n. MACDONALD, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR' TO FoR BEs'LI'rno- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDABLE STRUCTURE.

Application filed. August 2,1919. Seria1 No. 314,955.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. MACDONALD,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, and

a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Foldable Structures, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to foldable structures which are provided with means for holding them in their extended position. In particular, the invention is applicable to structures made of sheets of card or the like,

and as an example thereof I have here illustrated a box or carton having a lid which may be held in raised position serving, for example, to display a suitable advertisement on the inside of the lid calling attention to the contents.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the following description of the illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a frontelevation of a cardboard box or carton embodying my invention, the box having the lid in raised position;

Fig. 2

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation showing the lid raised but not held in position; and Fig. 4: is a central transverse section through the closed box.

Referring to the drawings, I have there shown a card-board box or carton having a back side 5 to which is hingedly connected the sheet 7 which forms the lid, the hinge 40 connection in this instance being a crease of the material. Across the line of junction between the back and thelid I may cut slits 9, there being herein two which are substantially centrally positioned. These slits de- 4 fine a strip 11 the ends of which are secured and. in the present instance because of the flexibility of the material, hingedly secured to the back 5 and the lid 7 respectively. As shown in Fig. 4:, when the box is closed the strip 11 will conform to the shape thereof and lie substantially in the planes of the back and lid.

30 is a section on the line 2-2 of To hold the lid in its raised position, as

' ing shown in Fig. 1, I ma provide a suita le brace cooperating with the strip 11 to hold the same displaced in such a manner that it forms a support for the lid. Hereinthis brace takesthe form of a piece of card'13 wider than the stripll, whereby 'it maybe adjustedto the position shown in Fig. 2, extending as a strut or brace bearing on the back 5 and lid? at the line of junction and on the strip 11 at the corresponding'hing ing line therein. The piece 13 may be provided with an extension 15 whereby it may be hingedly secured,,in position, convenently as shown, on, the strip 11; and in the closed position of the box it will lie flat beneath the strip,

shipping or storage package.

as shown in Fig. 4:, the box being then in condition for use as a When the box is received and the lid is a 1 raised, the parts will cometo the position shown in Fig. 3, the element 13 being. still folded beneath the strip 11. It will usually be found that a slight reverse bending of the lid beyond the perpendicular will cause the strip ll to spring out somewhat toward the position in Fig. 2. In any event,. the

being in the position of Fig. 3, the piece 13 may be bent downwardly about its hinge, a finger tab 17 being conveniently provided to facilitate this; and it will then parts take the position shown in Fig. 2 where it will hold the cover raised. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the parts form a truss supportthe cover. the strip 11 constituting the chord of the truss, and the piece 13 a strut; but this truss is foldable to permit the parts to be collapsed and when so folded will lie fiat substantially in the planes of the elements which it supports in its open position. a

I have herein described in detail the form of my invention illustrated as an example in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that the that particular form might be clear and not description has been thus specific in order that the construction of because the invention is correspondingly limited. The principles exemplified by particular disclosure herein made which I claim as new I shall express in the following claims 1. A foldable structure comprising hingedly associated sheet-like elements of car the or the like slitted across the lineof junction I to provide a relatively movable strip connectcd at its ends to the sheets and having a hinged brace on one side of the strip.

2. A foldable structure comprising hing edly associated sheet-like elements of card or the like having a pair of slits across the line of junction providing a strip connected at its ends to the sheets and associated positionable means for holding displaced the body of the strip.

3. A foldable structure comprising hingedly associated sheet-like elements of card or the like having a pair of slits across the line of junction providing a strip connected at its ends to the elements and a wider tab hinged to the strip at the line of junction.

4 A foldable structure comprising hingedly associated sheet-like elements, a strip crossing the line of junction having its ends respectively and to each other and adapted to lie substantially in the plane of back and lid When the box is closed with the joint be tween them at the line of junction and a Wider flat element hinged to lie flat beneath one of said first elements.

6. A boX having a side and a hinged lid and a truss for holding the iid raised comprising a chord and a strut relatively foldable to iie substantially flat in the planes of side and lid When thelidis down.

In testimony whereof- :11 have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN D. MACDONALD 

